Dec 3 is 3D Printing Day, celebrating 40 years of additive manufacturing milestones.
Today is a special date as it marks 3D Printing Day. December 3rd is indeed an opportunity to celebrate the advantages of additive manufacturing, its advancements, and to take stock of the market. We therefore wanted to highlight some key dates that have shaped the 3D technologies we know today. And there is a lot to say! We focused on 40 years of history, from the beginnings of additive manufacturing to its current phase of maturity and industrialization. We obviously couldn't trace every event in the sector, so we selected three milestones per decade. Feel free to share your comments and tell us about the facts that stood out to you!
It all began in the 1980s with the first appearance of the concept of 3D printing, a process that enables the creation of an object layer by layer. Patents were quickly filed for stereolithography and fused deposition modeling. For several years, these two technologies dominated the market, allowing for the creation of on-demand prototypes of varying complexity using diverse materials. Polymers were quickly joined by metals, with different processes developing, such as Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) and Directed Energy Deposition (DED). The goal was simple: to create metal parts without the need for molds or additional tooling.
The 2000s were synonymous with innovation and "firsts": In the medical field, researchers began proving the potential of 3D technologies with crucial steps for the future of the sector. The development of the RepRap movement gave a significant boost to desktop 3D printing, and we started to see more and more machines in design offices, workshops, and laboratories. Additive manufacturing began to open up; it was no longer an isolated process.
From 2010 onwards, we witnessed a rise in the applications of additive manufacturing: it was time to demonstrate its capabilities across all industries. Thus, 3D printed end-use parts began to appear in automotive, aeronautics, and even space—with the first 3D printer sent to space! One thing is certain: 3D technologies have not finished surprising us! Find the entire infographic HERE.
What do you think of our retrospective on additive manufacturing? Which fact particularly stood out to you? Feel free to share your opinion in the article's comments. You can also follow us on Facebook or LinkedIn!
